The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a lively and informative candidate forum at the USCB Center for the Arts on October 21, 2024. The event featured candidates for both Beaufort County Council and Beaufort City Council, including those running for Mayor. In attendance were County Council District 1 candidate Adam Biery, City Council candidates Neil Lipsitz, Mitch Mitchell, Julie Crenshaw, and Josh Gibson, along with Mayoral candidates Phil Cromer and Josh Scallate.
County Council Forum
Adam Biery, the sole participant for Beaufort County Council, addressed key concerns for District 1. His opponent and the incumbent councilman, Gerald Dawson, was a no-show. Biery emphasized the importance of smart growth, improved infrastructure, and small business support. With a background in architecture, he highlighted his focus on aligning infrastructure with population growth. On fiscal responsibility, Biery stressed the need to rebuild public trust before seeking further funding, noting his opposition to the upcoming transportation sales tax and bond referendum.
Biery also emphasized regional collaboration, noting that many issues transcend county lines and require a joint approach. He voiced a desire for better communication between council and constituents, suggesting the implementation of text alerts and other direct outreach methods.
City Council Forum
The forum for Beaufort City Council candidates was fast paced and put the tension that has built up in the race on full display. This portion of the forum opened with a mix of perspectives on the most pressing issues for the city from each of the four candidates.
Neil Lipsitz, a lifelong Beaufort resident, focused on infrastructure, particularly the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, which he described as the crown jewel of the city. He also prioritized the renegotiation of the marina lease and revitalization of the downtown economy.
Mitch Mitchell, an incumbent, also emphasized the need to address the waterfront park’s repairs and economic development. He touted his past work on parks and reopening of the Charles Lind Brown community center as evidence of his dedication to Beaufort’s quality of life.
Julie Crenshaw, a new voice in the race, centered her platform on growth management, infrastructure integrity, and curbing wasteful spending. She advocated for more citizen engagement and transparency in city decisions, particularly around the waterfront and marina.
Josh Gibson brought a sharp focus on fiscal accountability, questioning the effectiveness of city spending and voicing concerns over unchecked growth and multiple years of raising taxes. Gibson highlighted the thousands of new apartments permitted, which could lead to a 44% population increase by 2030, dramatically affecting traffic, schools, and daily life.
Rising city taxes were the main source of disagreement among candidates. Split by the moderator’s podium, one side of the argument was led by Josh Gibson who blamed the other side, Lipsitz and Mitchell, of voting for tax increases. Lipsitz and Mitchell asserted that they had done no such thing and remained on the defense throughout the forum whenever the topic came up. Lipsitz even said, “I’m just offended.” Both Crenshaw and Gibson said they would have followed current Mayor Cromer’s lead when he proposed to mitigate the tax increases by reducing the millage prior to approving the most current city budget.
Mayoral Forum
In the final portion of the evening, mayoral candidates Phil Cromer and Josh Scallate took the stage to present their visions for Beaufort’s future.
Phil Cromer, the current mayor, emphasized his record of fiscal responsibility and transparency, as well as his education and experience in city administration. He pointed to his efforts in city budgeting, advocating to help reduce the tax burden on residents. Cromer stressed the importance of careful city planning and collaboration with surrounding municipalities. He also stressed that he has only held the office of mayor for less than a year and hopes he will have the opportunity to continue what he has started.
Josh Scallate, running as a reform candidate, framed his candidacy as a push for new leadership, claiming that the city needs fresh ideas to address its challenges, particularly in managing growth and development. Scallate highlighted his history of public service in his career as a firefighter, and became emotional in his closing statement when thanking his family for their support.
Key Issues Highlighted
Across all forums, candidates emphasized the importance of smart growth, fiscal responsibility, and preserving Beaufort’s character amidst rapid development. Concerns about the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and the ongoing marina lease negotiations were repeatedly raised, with candidates agreeing that the park’s future is crucial to the city’s identity. Growth management, both in terms of residential development and economic opportunities, was another consistent theme.
With election day set for November 5, 2024, the forum offered voters valuable insights into how each candidate plans to address Beaufort’s most pressing issues.
Watch the full forum at this link.
